The House Bill 170 would have created a Renewable and Efficiency Portfolio Standard requiring utilities in Kentucky to get an increasing share of their electricity from clean, renewable sources and energy efficiency programs. It also would have established a Feed-in Tariff that sets a guaranteed rate for renewable energy producers. The two policies could have created 28,000 new jobs over the next 10 years.

House Bill 279 gives individuals the right to act or refuse to act in a manner motivated by a sincerely held religious belief, even if counter to a law. The bill is written so broadly that it could allow for challenges to existing anti-discrimination laws in Kentucky that protect individuals from discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations.

Status

HB 279 passed the House, 82-7, on March 1. The House refused to add language which would have ensured the continued protection of current civil rights laws in Kentucky. The bill made its way quickly through the Senate, with approval by the full Senate, 29-6, on March 7. Govenor Beshearvetoed this bill on March 22, but the House and Senate voted on March 26 to override his veto, 79-15 in the House and 32-6 in the Senate.

House Bill 424 is the Energy and Environment Cabinet's bill to make improvements to the bonding program for coal mine reclamation, including setting up a bond pool to cover reclamation costs when forfeited bonds are insufficient (most of the time). However, the bill specifically prohibits the funds to be used to address long-term water pollution discharges, which are common and usually expensive to treat.

Status

HB 424 was taken from the House Natural Resources and Environment Committee and given two readings on the House floor, even before the bill was heard in committee. HB 424 was not brought up during a March 4 special committee meeting called specifically for that purpose when KFTC was prepared to testify, but was amended the next day at a special meeting and then passed by the full House, 90-1. It went to the Senate Natural Resources & Energy Committee, received one reading on the Senate floor, but no further action.

House Bill 223 would have required stronger safeguards to protect the public from exposure to coal ash, and require emergency action plans for communities where "high hazard" coal ash ponds are located.

Senate Bill 50 and House Bill 33 set up a regulatory structure by which industrial hemp could be grown in Kentucky, provided a waiver of federal rules is obtained. As amended by the House, SB 50 also sets up a energy-related (bio-mass potential) research project at the Center for Applied Energy Research at the University of Kentucky.

Status

HB 50 is the bill that moved. It was approved by the Senate Agriculture Committee on Feb. 11 and the full Senate, 31-6, on Feb. 14. It was approved by the Agriculture and Small Business Committeein the House on March 6, but then got bogged down in the House before an 11th hour compromise that gave some control of the growing aspect to the Ky. Dept. of Agriculture and control of the energy-related research to UK, with a role for the state police in doing background checks. Gov. Beshear has indicated he is not yet sure if he will sign or veto the bill.

Senate Bill 39 would have prohibited Kentucky from participating in the expansion of Medicaid eligibility under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act unless authorized by the General Assembly.